View full sizeThe OregonianAldridge (left) was forced to watch the last two games from the bench.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who has missed the last two games with a sprained left ankle, will return to the Trail Blazers' starting lineup tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.

After testing his tender ankle during the Trail Blazers' Saturday morning shootaround, Aldridge pushed himself again during a pregame warmup at the Rose Garden and pronounced himself ready to play afterward.

The Blazers' lone All-Star representative will step back into his starting power forward position. That means coach Nate McMillan will get a chance to evaluate the starting lineup he debuted Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, with Nicolas Batum replacing Wesley Matthews at shooting guard.

McMillan was able to feature the new lineup for just 1 minutes, 55 seconds against the Wizards before Aldridge stepped on Trevor Booker's foot after attempting a jump shot and severely sprained his ankle.

Matthews will join a second unit that will feature Jamal Crawford and, for the first time in weeks, rookie Nolan Smith.